[I googled “encouragement” & I could not pass up sharing this one.]
Hebrews 3:13
But encourage one another every day, as long as it’s called “Today,” so that none of you may become hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
Encourage someone daily.
This may be the simplest yet most neglected practice I’ve come across.
Many of you know the somewhat fluke manner in which the reality this came about for me. It was 2011, and my spiritual partner Dave calls me up and asks if I will start calling him everyday at 4:00. “Sure, what’s up?” “That just seems to be about the time I start to lose it at work everyday, and forget who I am or why I’m here.” (I’m paraphrasing a bit, forgive me, Dave. But this is the gist of it.)
So I start ringing him everyday at 4:00. Little did we know the power of the “daily call.” Just a simple check-in, yet so hugely encouraging and effective. It builds your joy strength more than you would think. Just to know there’s someone out there who cares and is rooting for you. We felt God gave us a little gift that day that has helped us on hundreds of days thereafter.
Everyone needs encouragement.
For those of you have children, I was trained that kids need five positive affirmations to every negative one. It’s one thing to catch your child doing wrong, but it’s a game-changer when you catch them doing right, and verbally acknowledge it. I love the look on Gaby or Zayra’s face when I say, “Come sit on the couch. I wanna talk to you about something.” They of course are somewhat nervous at this ominous-sounding proposition, then I say, “I saw how you helped your sister today when she was having trouble trying to find her jacket. I just wanna say that I appreciate you for doing that, and I thought it was really great.”
Ear to ear smile.